Ahnentafel of Justin Luke Astley Kirby: the Maitland connection

Here’s the second part of my Ahnentafel, kindly send to me by Rafael Alberto Madan, my 8th cousin, twice removed (see more here). I’ve started with my parents, and haven’t updated their details yet, but will do this when I start blogging about their stories. The information from the 10th to 25th generations of Maitlands is from various sources and I’ve tried to credit these where I can. According to the Wikipedia entry on Clan Maitland, the name Maitland is of Norman origin and was originally spelt Mautalent, Matulant or Matalan, it translates as “evil genius”. I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusions, but funnily enough the Mautalents come from the village of Les Moitiers d’Allonne near Carteret in Normandy, which is only just up the road from St Remy des Landes where my father now lives. Apparently, the name is found to occur frequently in Northumberland during the 12th and 13th centuries. The first time it is found in Scotland was Thomas de Matulant who was of Anglo-Norman origin and he appears to my ancestor. He’s as far as I can go, but it’s my great grandmother Elsie Maitland who connects me to the Clan:

— 2nd Generation —

2. Giles Simon Kirby, was born on 21 Oct 1930 (only child). He married Angela Mary Julie Birtwistle between 1944 and 1955; they had six children of which the preparer of this Ahnentafel is aware. The preparer of this Ahnentafel understands that the couple may have divorced.

4. Alfred Reginald Claude Kirby, was born circa 1901 (elder son (of two) and first child). He married Rosemary Louise FitzHerbert Wright on 19 Apr 1925 at the Catholic Church, Fordingbridge, Salisbury, England; He died on 21 Jun 1963.

5. Rosemary Louise FitzHerbert Wright (wife of the immediately preceding), was born on 2 Jun 1905.

The Times, Wednesday, Apr 22, 1925: MARRIAGES
Mr. C. Kirby and Miss R Wright
On Saturday, at the Roman Catholic Church, Fordingbridge, the marriage was solemnized between Mr. Claude Kirby, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Kirby, of Woodyates House Salisbury, and Rosemary Louise, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. FitzHerbert WRIGHT, of Hale Park, Breamore, Salisbury.

The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Father Cyril Smith, SJ., assisted by the Rev. Father Anscott. The bride was given away by her father, and wore a dress of ivory satin, with train of old Brussels lace (lent by her grand-mother, Mrs. FitzHerbert Wright), a wreath of orange-blossom, and tulle veil. She was attended by Miss Iris Wright (sister), Miss Valda Kirby (sister of the bridegroom), and Miss Ruth Tracy, who wore primrose georgette dresses with touches of turquoise, with tulle veils, and carried bouquets of yellow tulips. Major Carroll- Leahy was the best man. After the wedding a reception was held at Hale Park, where a large number of relatives and friends were entertained. Later, the bride and bridegroom left for Gloucestershire by motor-car, the gift of the bride’s father.

18. George Keith Maitland, was born on 11 Jan 1854 (the third (second surviving) son (of three)), and was baptized on 22 Feb 1854. He married Christina Mary Theresa McDonell in 1877, and converted thereafter to Catholicism; they had five children of which the preparer of this Ahnentafel is aware. He died on 17 Mar 1896 at Reading, England, as a result of an accident of some kind.

19. Christina Mary Theresa McDonell (wife of the immediately preceding), was born on 14 May 1845 daughter of Angus McDonell (20th Chief, of Keppoch) (of ancient Highland family, whose members held fast to the Catholic Faith at the Protestant Revolt and in succeeding centuries of persecution), and Christina MacNab, his wife. She died on 29 Dec 1932 at Bournemouth, Hampshire.

— 6th Generation —

36. George Ramsay Maitland, was born on 19 Jan 1821 (the second son (of four) and second child). He married Alice Anne Nisbet on 19 Sep 1848; they had five children of which the preparer of this Ahnentafel is aware. He died on 24 Jun 1866.

37. Alice Anne Nisbet (wife of the immediately preceding), was born circa 1825 in INDIA, the daughter of Josiah Nisbet, HEICCS, and Rachael Marjoribanks, his wife. She died on 27 Oct 1869.

— 7th Generation —

72. Alexander Gibson-Maitland, was born on 14 Sep 1787 (the oldest son (of six) and oldest child). He married Susan Ramsay on 25 Mar 1819; they had six children of which the preparer of this Ahnentafel is aware. He died in Sep 1828.

73. Susan Ramsay (wife of the immediately preceding), was baptized on 27 Jan 1792 at Cramond, Midlothian, Scotland; she was the eldest daughter of George Ramsay, of Barnton, and Jean Hamilton, his wife. She died in Sep 1831.

— 8th Generation —

144. Sir Alexander Charles Gibson-Maitland, II BARONET, of Clifton Hall, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, was born on 21 Aug 1755(oldest son (of five), and oldest child), and was baptized on 21 Nov. He married Helen Gibson-Wright on 30 Apr 1786; they had twelve children of which the preparer of this Ahnentafel is aware. He died on 7 Feb 1848.

145. Helen Gibson-Wright (wife of the immediately preceding), was born between 1769 and 1771, the daughter and heiress of Alexander Gibson-Wright, of Clifton Hall & Kersie, and Margaret Gibson, his wife. She died after 7 Apr 1812.

— 9th Generation —

288. Gen. the Hon. Sir Alexander Maitland, I Baronet, was born on 21 Mar 1728 (7th son). On obtaining a marriage license on 6 Jul 1754 from the Archbishop of at Canterbury Vicar General’s Office, London, he married Penelope Madan on 6 Jul 1754 at St.George’s Anglican Church, Hanover (Golden) Square, Mayfair, London; they had eight children of which the preparer of this Ahnentafel is aware. As of 12 Oct 1793, he was a General in the British Army. He was created a Baronet on 30 Nov 1818. He died on 14 Feb 1820 at age 91 and was buried at St.Andrew’s Anglican Church, Totteridge, Hertfordshire, England, where there is a monumental tablet and an elaborate tomb. His estate was probated on 16 Mar 1820 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, London.

289. Penelope Madan (wife of the immediately preceding) was born on 20 Dec 1730 at Holyport (near Maidenhead), Berkshire, England. She died on 22 Dec 1805 at Totteridge and was buried at St.Andrew’s Anglican Church there, where there is a monumental tablet and an elaborate tomb.

[Earlier generations of Maitlands below are sourced from The Peerage site, which ends at Sir Alexander Maitland (see above)]

Charles Maitland, 6th Earl of Lauderdale was born circa 1688.1 He was the son of John Maitland, 5th Earl of Lauderdale and Lady Margaret Cunningham. He married Lady Elizabeth Ogilvy, daughter of James Ogilvy, 4th Earl of Findlater and Anne Dunbar, on 15 July 1710. He died on 15 July 1744 at Halton, Midlothian, Scotland. Charles Maitland, 6th Earl of Lauderdale gained the title of 6th Earl of Lauderdale. According to the Clan Maitland site, he was Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff of the County of Edinburgh and also Master of the Mint. He was one of the sixteen Scottish Peers in the ninth Parliament of Great Britain. On July 15, 1710 he married Lady Elizabeth Ogilvie, daughter of James, Earl of Findlater and Seafield. Charles was the last Lord Chancellor of Scotland. He died on July 15, 1744. He had two brothers and a sister

Charles Maitland, 3rd Earl of Lauderdale was the son of John Maitland, 1st Earl of Lauderdale and Lady Isabel Seton. He married Elizabeth Lauder, daughter of Richard Lauder and Mary Scot, Lady Haltoun, on 18 November 1652 at Halton, Midlothian, Scotland.1 He died on 9 June 1691. Charles Maitland, 3rd Earl of Lauderdale gained the title of 3rd Earl of Lauderdale. According to the Clan Maitland site, he was a Senator of the College of Justice with the title of Lord Haltoun and Lord Treasurer Depute in 1670. He married Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Richard Lauder of Haltoun, County of Edinburgh. Charles died on June 9th, 1691. Charles was one of the Privy Council of Charles II and Lord Justice General and General of the Mint from 1681 to 1684.

John Maitland, 1st Baron Maitland of Thirlestane was born before 1573. He married Jean Fleming, daughter of James Fleming, 4th Lord Fleming and Barbara Hamilton, before 1589. He died on 3 October 1595. He was buried at Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland. John Maitland, 1st Baron Maitland of Thirlestane gained the title of 1st Baron Maitland of Thirlestane. According to the Clan Maitland site, he received a Charter of Lethington which was ratified by Parliament on the 22nd of May, 1584. He bought Lethington in 1613 (probably at a very low price) from his nephew, James Maitland of Lethington, son of William, who had been exiled from Scotland because of his Catholic religion.

Having filled the high offices of the Lord Privy Seal, Judge of the Court of Session, Secretary of State and Lord Chancellor of Scotland he was elevated to Lord Thirlestane about 18th of May, 1590 when the King married Anne of Denmark and crated a number of peers to celebrate the occasion. His coat-of-arms and those of his wife Janet Fleming (the niece of his brothers wife), can be seen on a stone panel above the door in the old banqueting hall of the Lethington Tower. By marrying Janet, daughter of Lady Barbara Hamilton and James, IV Lord Fleming, he allied the line of his descendants with royal blood. Janet was descended from King James II of Scotland. John died in 1595. There’s an extensive entry on the Wikipediahere.

— 15th Generation —

[Earlier generations of Maitlands below are sourced from Stirnet.com, except where I’ve found more detailed accounts]

Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington and Thirlstane (1496‑August 1, 1586). According, to the Wikipedia’s entry for the Clan Maitland, Sir Richard was a Senator of the College of Justice, an Ordinary Lord of Session from 1561 until 1584, and notable Scottish poet. He was served heir to his father, Sir William Maitland of Lethington, Haddingtonshire, and Thirlestane, Berwickshire, on 15 October 1515.

In his later years he was blind, and occupied himself by writing a history of The House and Surname of Seaton, and by writing poems, e.g., On the New Year, On the Queene’s Maryage, etc. He held various offices, chiefly legal, but appears to have kept as far as possible out of the fierce political struggles of his time, and to have been a genially satirical humorist.

He married Mariotta (or Margaret) (d.March 1586), daughter of Sir Thomas Cranstoun of Corsbie, in Berwickshire. They had three sons and four daughters.

— 16th Generation —

William Maitland of Thirlestane and Lethington (d Flodden 09.09.1513); m. Martha Seton (dau of George, ). According to ElectricScotland.com, William Maitland, was described as a man of great bravery and resolution, who was killed at Flodden, with his sovereign, James IV., with whom he was in high favour. He married Martha Seton, daughter of George, 2nd Lord Seton.

William Maitland of Thirlestane and Lethington (d before 1471). According to ElectricScotland.com, William Maitland, was the first to change the spelling of his name to its present form. He had a charter from Archibald, duke of Turenne and earl of Douglas, to himself and Margaret Wardlaw, his wife, of the lands of Blythe, Hedderwick, Tollus, and Burncleugh, dated at Linlithgow, 23d March 1432, his father being then alive.

— 19th Generation —

Sir Robert Maitland of Thirlestane and Lethington (b by 1369); m. Marion Abernethy (a 1466). According to ElectricScotland.com, Sir Robert Maitland, got the charge of the castle of Dunbar, from his uncle, George, earl of March, when that rebellious nobleman withdrew into England, in 1398, in consequence of the contract of marriage between his daughter, Lady Elizabeth Dunbar and David, duke of Rothesay, being cancelled, through the intrigues of Archibald, earl of Douglas, surnamed the Grim. In conjunction with Hotspur and Lord Talbot, the earl soon after returned across the border, and laid waste the lands which, having been forfeited, he could no longer call his own. His nephew, Sir Robert Maitland, having surrendered the castle of Dunbar to the earl of Douglas, escaped being involved in his ruin. He and his family were afterwards designed of Lethington. He died about 1434, leaving three sons. Robert, the eldest, was one of the hostages for James I., on his liberation from England in 1424, when his annual revenue was estimated at 400 merks. As he predeceased his father, without issue, William, the second son, succeeded to the family estates. James, the third son, married Egidia, daughter of James Scrymgeour of Dudhope, constable of Dundee, and from his grandson, John, descended the Maitlands of Eccles and other families of the name.

Dunbar harbour and castle ruins

— 20th Generation —

John Maitland of Thirlestane and Lethington. According to ElectricScotland.com, John Maitland, got a safe-conduct to go to England in 1363. He obtained from William, earl of Douglas, upon his own resignation, a charter of the lands of Thirlestane and Tollus, to himself and his son, Robert, by his wife, the Lady Agnes Dunbar, daughter of Patrick, earl of March, and died about 1395.

— 21st Generation —

Robert Maitland of Thirlestane and Lethington. According to ElectricScotland.com, Sir Robert Maitland, possessed the lands of Thirlestane in his father’s lifetime. Among other charters he had one of the lands of Lethington from Sir John Gifford of Yester, confirmed by King David II., 17th October, in the 17th year of his reign (1345). Just a year afterwards, on the same day of the month, he died when the Clan fought at the Battle of Durham in 1346 (also known as the Battle of Neville’s Cross), with his brother. His wife (Christina?) was the daughter of John Keith and sister of Sir Robert Keith, great marischal of Scotland, who was killed in the same battle.

— 22nd Generation —

William Maitland of Thirlestane (d c1293). According to the Wikipedia entry on Clan Maitland, William joined King Robert the Bruce on his ascension to the crown. He supported the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, however he died in 1315. William of Thirlestane was a follower of Robert the Bruce (1276 — 1329). According to the Clan Maitland site, William called Burd—alane, eldest son of Sir Richard, referred to himself as ‘Willelmus Mautaland filius Ricardi Matalent’ . He was in possession of Thirlestane by 1293

— 23rd Generation —

Sir Richard Maitland; m. Avicia (dau of Thomas de Thirlestane). According to ElectricScotland.com, Sir Richard Matulant, who, in the reign of Alexander III., was one of the most considerable barons in Scotland, being the owner of the lands and baronies of Thirlestane, Blythe, Tollus, Hedderwick, and other properties, all in the shire of Berwick. To Dryburgh abbey, which had been founded little more than a century before, he gifted several lands, “for the welfare of his soul, and the souls of Avicia his wife, his predecessors and successors.” His son, William de Mautlant of Thirlestane, confirmed these gifts. According to the Clan Maitland site, Sir Richard Mautalent, the earliest undoubted ancestor of the family of whom any substantial amount is known, probably came from ‘Chivington’ (Chevington), in Northumberland. He married Avicia, daughter and heiress of Thomas de Thirlestane and thereby acquired the lands of Thirlestane, Hedderwick and Blyth in the Scottish Border country before 1258. It has long been known as Lauderdale, a valley running south-east of Soutra Hill, south of Edinburgh.

Old Thirlestane, the original home of the Mautalents in Lauderdale

Sir Richard defended his castle against English invaders including Edward I of England (1272 — 1307). From 1230 until 1236 he was involved in litigation concerning his lands in Chevington, Northumberland. This litigation was with a neighbour, Hugh de Morewic, almost certainly a descendent of the Mautalents earliest feudal lords, the Morvilles, whose home in Normandy was only a few miles from theirs. The outcome is not known, and the lands were probably lost when Edward I confiscated all land owned in England by Scots.

— 24th Generation —

William Matalent / Mautalent. According to ElectricScotland.com, William de Matulant was witness to several of the charters of King Alexander II., which proves that he must have been much about the court of that monarch. He died about 1250.

— 25th Generation —

Thomas Mautalent (a 1227). According, to the Wikipedia’s entry for the Clan Maitland, Thomas de Matulant was of Anglo-Norman origin, and his is the first for the name to be found in Scotland. He was the ancestor to this noble family in Lauderdale. Thomas flourished in the reign of William the Lion and died in 1288. The Maitlands had come to Britain from Normandy with William the Conqueror in 1066, originally settling in Northumberland.

Hi! I’m a cousin, as well–Have you followed the Lauderdales into the U.S? Fort Lauderdale is named after my ancestor, Major William Lauderdale, descendant of John and close friend of Andrew Jackson. Thanks for compiling all of this. It’s fascinating to me–at the bottom (?) of the social spiral, as it were…

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I originally started this blog back in 2008 as a note/scrapbook to chronicle what I'd was finding out about my family history. It's now become a repository for a random selection of anecdotes, discoveries, encounters, observations, notes, and reflections where my family history provides an excuse to experiment with creative non-fiction writing. You can find out more about me and this blog here.